News

JAPAN - Five under 2:24 in Osaka Marathon

2003-02-05

Mizuki Noguchi, in her second marathon (she won on her debut at Nagoya in March
2002 in 2:25:35) moved to eighth on the world all-time list to win a great
womens marathon in Osaka. In second place Masako Chiba improved from 2:25:11
(2nd Rotterdam 2002) to 2:21:45 and Naoko Sakamoto (22) ran a stunning 2:21:51,
a time bettered only by Paula Radcliffe for a womens marathon debut. In fourth
Lornah Kiplagat took 14 seconds off her two year-old pb while Mari Ozaki, in
fifth place, debuted with 2:23:30. The previous course record of 2:22:54 was
held by Lidia Simon.

Ken Nakamura reports: It was mostly Noguchi and Miwako Yamanaka who took
turns to lead the pack through the first 5k in 16:41 and the race of attrition
had started. The 10k mark was reached in 33:12 and 15k in 49:57, and at both of
these aid stations Noguchi missed her individual bottle and had to settle for
regular water. Yamanaka, who was fourth in last years World Cross Country
Champs and was reportedly in 2:20 shape, suddenly fell away from the lead pack
after being near the front until halfway (70:21) and dropped out at 24.7k. Her
coach later explained that she had sprained an ankle at the sharp turn-around
point.

That left five runners in contention: Kiplagat, Noguchi, Ozaki, Chiba and
Sakamoto.Although both Ozaki and Sakamoto, who have half marathon bests of
69:34 and 69:27 respectively, were marathon debutantes, they were comfortably
staying with the leaders. At this point Sakamoto looked so good, it was almost
scary and at around 25k (1:23:40) she came up to share the lead with Noguchi.
The turning point was 30k (1:40:34) when Sakamoto started to push the pace; the
next kilometre being covered in approx 3:16. Ozaki, Kiplagat and Chiba lost
contact in that order. "Before the race I was told that the real racing
starts at 30k, so when I was told to go for it I decided to go," said
Sakamoto, who is coached by 2:11 marathoner Yutaka Taketomi. At 35k (1:56:55),
Chiba and Kiplagat were about 100m behind the leaders, Sakamoto and Noguchi.
With 5k to go, Noguchi pushed the pace; a gap opened but Sakamoto worked her
way back. Noguchi tried again at 38.5k and it worked this time. By 40k
(2:13:51) she led Sakamoto by 14 sec, while Chiba was another 22 sec behind.
With less than a kilometre remaining, Chiba passed the faltering Sakamoto to
move into second place. Noguchi, Chiba and Sakamoto became the second, fourth
and fifth fastest ever Japanese performers. "My next goal is to win a
medal in Paris," said Noguchi.

Running only his second marathon, Samson Ramadhani (21) of Tanzania improved
from 2:14:45 to 2:09:24 to win the 52nd annual Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon,
reports Ken Nakamura. Despite near ideal conditions the race started quite
slowly and halfway was reached in 65:12 but the second half was exactly a
minute faster. Ramadhani, who had been invited to the race based on his 61:05
half marathon best, said. "I was hoping to run sub-2:10, so I am very
happy to achieve my goal".

Unlike the other three big marathons in Japan - Tokyo, Fukuoka and Lake Biwa
? this was not a selection race for the World Championships and thus the very
best Japanese who were hoping to make the team for Paris were absent. However,
the race did act as an Australian trial and Nick Harrison ran a very smart race
to finish third in a pb of 2:10:22. "I am now faster than my coach Chris
Wardlaw," said Harrison, who was delighted with making the World Champs
team as well as running an Olympic team qualifying time.